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Students celebrating a new school.

Completion of Team Dayā School #11 in Shripur Domilla, Nepal

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Students in a class
(PHOTO: The Team Dayā school in Shripur Domilla, Nepal was completed in the spring of 2026. Students in one of the new classrooms.)

The Team Dayā school in Shripur Domilla, Nepal is complete.

The school in Shripur Domilla is our 11th school overall and our third school in Nepal. Today, more than 150 students are enrolled in the school, up from 108 students when we completed the groundbreaking of the school the week of October 27, 2025.

School attendance has improved—especially among girls and marginalized children—and students now learn in a safe, clean, and motivating environment. Teachers are better equipped to teach, and students are more engaged, confident, and eager to learn. Most of the students come from economically disadvantaged Dalit families, and for them this school is more than a building—it is a gateway to opportunity for each of them and for the entire community.

The school building is designed and constructed to last one hundred years, so it should serve this community for many generations to come. As part of an all-hands-in approach to development, the people of Shripur Domilla had invested an incredible 1,655 volunteer workdays to make this school a reality.

None of our work is possible without the support of our core building teams and our over 1,500 supporters. Big thanks to U of Digital and its CEO Shiv Gupta that provided matching funds this Nepal project.

Please consider supporting our work. All funds go towards school construction.

Our Nepal ‘25 team was composed of six individuals who supported our school building fund.

The group’s very first school was built in 2019 in Dhayapur, Nepal. A second school was built in Hardahani, Nepal in the spring of 2024.

Students celebrating a new school.
(PHOTO: The Team Dayā school in Shripur Domilla, Nepal was completed in the spring of 2026. Students celebrating their new school.)
A teacher and students in a classroom.
(PHOTO: The Team Dayā school in Shripur Domilla, Nepal was completed in the spring of 2026. A teacher and students in one of the new classrooms.)
Students in a classroom.
(PHOTO: The Team Dayā school in Shripur Domilla, Nepal was completed in the spring of 2026. Students in one of the new classrooms.)
School building under construction.
(PHOTO: The Team Dayā school in Shripur Domilla, Nepal was completed in the spring of 2026. The school was constructed in late 2025 and early 2026.)
School building under construction.
(PHOTO: The Team Dayā school in Shripur Domilla, Nepal was completed in the spring of 2026. The school was constructed in late 2025 and early 2026.)

The Community of Shripur Domilla, Nepal

The community of Shripur Domilla (population 1,475) is in the southwestern corner of Nepal in the lowlands near the Indian border. It is just over an hour drive from the city of Dhangadhi. Community members speak Nepali and other local languages and dialects (there are 124 languages spoken in Nepal). The community is Hindu and its economy relies on agriculture including rice, wheat, mustard, corn and seasonal vegetables.

You can see the school and community location on this map pin.

Our 2025 Nepal Team

(PHOTO: Team Dayā members Jay Sears, Sajal Patel, Thane Liffick and Jordan Mitchell with community members on the site for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā members Jay Sears, Sajal Patel, Thane Liffick and Jordan Mitchell with community members on the site for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā members Thane Liffick, Jordan Mitchell and Sajal Patel at the dedication of the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā members Thane Liffick, Jordan Mitchell and Sajal Patel at the dedication of the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)

Two of the six team members did not travel to the school building project, but fundraised with their own activities. One ran a half marathon in Malibu, California and the other spoke about the importance of Building Change while raising funds for his own ad tech start up.

“Not everyone has the time to make a trip around the world, but everyone can still make a contribution to Building Change,” said Team Dayā Head of Recruiting Jaryd Knutsen. If you have the time and inclination to travel with us to bear witness, great – but if you are already doing something remarkable in your professional or personal life  you can still deliver a big impact as a Team Dayā member.”

Please consider supporting  Team Dayā. We cannot build these schools without your support. Example investment opportunities:

  • $50,000 Fund an entire school
  • $1,250 Paint for a school
  • $625 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
  • $312.50 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school

The new school is an addition to the existing Shree Chandra Surya Basic School. Of the current six permanent school structures, at least two are unsafe and others are in various dilapidated conditions – leaking roofs of metal sheeting (particularly loud when it rains) and decaying walls that are potential unsafe during earthquakes. The school is also using two temporary structures due to these issues.

Our Nepal ‘25 Team

Meet our Nepal ‘25 team and please consider supporting them. All contributions go directly to our school building fund. Team members pay all their own travel costs.

(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Thane Liffick breaking ground for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Thane Liffick breaking ground for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā members Jordan Mitchell and Thane Liffick tying rebar for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā members Jordan Mitchell and Thane Liffick tying rebar for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)

Liffick. Thane is the founder and CEO of Signal North Advisory, where he works with early stage, high growth companies. He spent over 20 years at Slalom Consulting as managing director and created the firm’s healthcare practice area. Donate.

(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Jordan Mitchell hauling cement for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Jordan Mitchell hauling cement for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā members Jordan Mitchell (left) and Thane Liffick (center right) on the cement line in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā members Jordan Mitchell (left) and Thane Liffick (center right) on the cement line in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)

Mitchell. Jordan is a founding member of Team Dayā, Inc. and an alumnus of multiple school building projects. He has spent his career across ad tech including as an SVP at IAB Tech Lab (head of consumer privacy, identity and data), VP product at Rubicon Project and founder, chairman and CEO at Others Online. “I think about the legacy I want to leave. I understand that after I’m gone, it’s not the things I have (or had) that matter; rather, it’s the respect I’ve built for myself in my community and the lives I’ve touched.” Donate.

(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Sajal Patel speaking to the community during the welcome ceremony for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Sajal Patel speaking to the community during the welcome ceremony for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Sajal Patel (center) on the cement line for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Sajal Patel (center) on the cement line for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)

Patel. Sajal is the director of partnerships & business development at Nextdoor. She has also worked at TransUnion, Turn, Razorfish and VivaKi. “As a first-generation Indian American woman, I was taught about the power of education and the difference it can make in one’s life—not just as knowledge gained, but as freedom earned.” Donate.

(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Mano Pillai. Contributed.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Mano Pillai. Contributed.)

Pillai. Mano is co-founder at AI Agent management platform Hypermindz.ai. He was previously chief product officer at Liveintent, CEO at Nikaza and has held product-engineering roles at Neustar, AddThis and AOL. “I grew up in a family of educators, and from an early age, I understood that education is so much more than just reading and writing—it’s a transformative force that can change lives and uplift entire communities.” Donate.

(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Melodey Sepsey. Contributed.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Melodey Sepsey. Contributed.)

Sepsey. Melodey is the director of enterprise partnerships at Nexxen. She has also worked at Amobee, Turn and Starcom Mediavest Group. “Having an adopted brother from Guatemala and understanding what the daily living conditions there are, I really was drawn to the mission of providing support through education to low-income countries.” Donate.

(PHOTO: Team Dayā in in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā in in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā members Sajal Patel (left), Thane Liffick (back, right) and Jay Sears (right) carrying rebar to be used in the footing of the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā members Sajal Patel (left), Thane Liffick (back, right) and Jay Sears (right) carrying rebar to be used in the footing of the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)

Sears. Jay is the founder and CEO of Team Dayā, Inc. He also operates the local community news site MyRye.com in his hometown. He spent over 25 years at media and technology companies including mastercard, Rubicon Project, Pulsepoint, ContextWeb, EDGAR Online and Wolff New Media. Donate.

If you are interested in joining a future school build, please contact our head of recruiting, Jaryd Knutsen.

Your Support & The Team

Please consider supporting  Team Dayā. We cannot build these schools without your support. Example investment opportunities:

  • $50,000 Fund an entire school
  • $1,250 Paint for a school
  • $625 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
  • $312.50 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school

Three Ways You Can Help

  1. Make a Donation Online
    • Example investment opportunities:
      • $50,000 Fund an entire school
      • $1,250 Paint for a school
      • $625 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
      • $312.50 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school
  1. Spread the Word
  1. Join the Team & Travel on a School Build

Team Dayā 2026 School Project Dates:

We are now actively recruiting members for our 2026 groundbreakings. If you are curious to learn more about joining a build, please reach out to our Head of Recruiting Jaryd Knutsen. Not sure? Watch the documentary Building Change, the Team Dayā Story (8 minute run time), by Kathmandu based filmmaker Shyam Karki of Samson Film Productions.

Guatemala 2026 (no longer available)

  • Sunday, March 22, 2026 – Saturday, March 28, 2026 
  • Arrival by 2pm on first day, departure after 10am on last day
  • Arrive & depart: Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA-La Aurora Intl.)

Malawi 2026 (no longer available)

  • Sunday, June 28, 2026 – Saturday, July 4, 2026
  • Arrival by 2pm on first day, departure after 10am on last day
  • Arrive & depart: Lilongwe, Malawi (LLW-Kamuzu Intl.)

Senegal 2026 (available)

  • Sunday, November 29, 2026 – Saturday, December 5, 2026
  • Arrival by 2pm on first day, departure after 10am on last day
  • Arrive & depart: Dakar, Senegal (DSS-Blaise Diagne Intl.)

Thanks again for your continued support,

All of us at Team Dayā

(PHOTO: Team Dayā members Jay Sears, Sajal Patel, Thane Liffick and Jordan Mitchell on the site for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā members Jay Sears, Sajal Patel, Thane Liffick and Jordan Mitchell on the site for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
Students celebrating a new school.
(PHOTO: The Team Dayā school in Shripur Domilla, Nepal was completed in the spring of 2026. Students celebrating their new school.)
Team Dayā logo

(PHOTO: Students at the new Mkuyu Primary School building in Lambwe, Malawi funded by Team Dayā. Contributed.)

Completion of Mkuyu Primary School in Lambwe, Malawi

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(PHOTO: Students at the new Mkuyu Primary School building in Lambwe, Malawi funded by Team Dayā. Contributed.)
(PHOTO: Students at the new Mkuyu Primary School building in Lambwe, Malawi funded by Team Dayā. Contributed.)

The Team Dayā school in Lambwe, Malawi is complete.

The Mkuyu Primary School (also spelled Nkuyu) is the tenth school funded by Team Dayā overall. It is our group’s second school funded in Malawi, with a third school being funded in Malawi this summer.

Please consider a donation to the group or to one of our team members. All funds go towards school construction. Team Dayā funded its first school (named M’mbula) in the country in 2023 in the community of Nchetana in the Kasungu region of Malawi.

(PHOTO: Tiyamike Jefita is an 11 year old student enrolled in grade 4 Mkuyu Primary School Lambwe, Malawi. Contributed.)
(PHOTO: Tiyamike Jefita is an 11 year old student enrolled in grade 4 Mkuyu Primary School Lambwe, Malawi. Contributed.)

“Now I enjoy learning,” said Tiyamike Jefita, an 11 year old student enrolled in grade 4. “I concentrate better and I will work hard to become a teacher. This school block has made me like school again.”

On Monday, June 23, 2025, our group broke ground on the project. The community of Lambwe in the Dowa district north of the capital of Lilongwe in the Central Region of Malawi (see location) has a population of approximately 1,609. It is an agricultural community dependent on farming – mainly corn, tobacco, soya and peanuts.

School Project

(PHOTO: The new Mkuyu Primary School building in Lambwe, Malawi funded by Team Dayā. Contributed.)
(PHOTO: The new Mkuyu Primary School building in Lambwe, Malawi funded by Team Dayā. Contributed.)
(PHOTO: One of the seven local teachers delivering instruction in a Mkuyu school classroom that is missing a roof. Team Dayā will groundbreak on a new school building in Lambwe, Malawi in June 2025. Contributed.)
(PHOTO: One of the seven local teachers delivering instruction in an old Mkuyu school classroom that is missing a roof. Contributed.)

“[Previously, the] children learned in kitchens, outside under trees, or inside dangerous, dilapidated classroom structures that put their lives at risk,” said Hardwell Kennedy, one of the seven teachers. ”The environment was not conducive to learning, which made education extremely difficult for both teachers and students.”

With the new building, “the school’s face has completely transformed into one that is clean, attractive, and safe,” continued Kennedy.

The community continues to operate an existing school for grades 1st – 8th with 603 students (298 boys and 305 girls). Officials are now working to enroll additional out of school children and they report attendance has increased. The children are taught by seven teachers.

(PHOTO: Bernadetta Banda, a mother of two and farmer, who sends her children to the new Mkuyu Primary School Lambwe, Malawi. Contributed.)
(PHOTO: Bernadetta Banda, a mother of two and farmer, who sends her children to the new Mkuyu Primary School Lambwe, Malawi. Contributed.)

Bernadetta Banda (pictured above), a mother of two and farmer, shared how emotionally significant this development has been for her family. She explained that her children now go to school regularly and are able to concentrate because, in her words, “the environment is comfortable and motivating.” Her greatest hope is for her children to pass their Standard 8 Exams and transition to strong secondary schools, demonstrating how this new investment opens doors for the next generation.

A dedicated local Project Leadership Committee, made up of six men and six women, was chosen to guide the construction process. This group gathered supplies and coordinated 4,199 volunteer workdays for the school project.

Listen to Charles Jefta, headmaster of the Mkuyu Primary School in Lambwe, Malawi:

Malawi ’25 Team

Meet our Malawi ‘25 team and please consider supporting them. All contributions go directly to our school building fund. Team members pay all their own travel costs.

(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Mike Benedek tamping down the a foundation footing on a 2023 project in Guatemala.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Mike Benedek tamping down the a foundation footing on a 2023 project in Guatemala.)

Benedek. Mike “The Bricklayer” Benedek joined the team during the depths of the pandemic and immediately started fundraising. The Malawi project will be his fourth Team Dayā school. Beyond being an inveterate travel and supporter of our efforts, Mike is president and CEO of the data marketplace Datonics. Read his first person account from one of our Guatemala projects Mike Benedek on Building Change in Caserío Sector Los Castro. Donate.

(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Gabe Matta. Contributed.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Gabe Matta. Contributed.)

Matta. Gabe is a rising senior at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., where he plays on their nationally ranked varsity rugby team and is a member of the National Honor Society. Outside of school, he enjoys working with kids by coaching youth football, teaching Catholic Faith Formation classes and volunteering with the Young Men’s Service League and the Downs Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia. Donate.

(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Serge Matta. Contributed.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Serge Matta. Contributed.)

Matta. Serge is the president, Global Ad Sales at LG Ad Solutions. His expertise lies in leading sales teams across industries to meet revenue goals and creating strategic, symbiotic partnerships. Prior to joining LG Ad Solutions, Serge held multiple leadership positions at different companies – he was the CEO at comScore, president of global sales and marketing at GroundTruth, and CEO at video audience and content intelligence provider ICX Media. Donate.

(PHOTO: Team Dayā founder Jay Sears at the groundbreaking for the school in Aldea Santo Tomas Xacalta, Guatemala.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā founder Jay Sears at the groundbreaking for the school in Aldea Santo Tomas Xacalta, Guatemala. December 2024.)

Sears. Jay is the founder and CEO of Team Dayā, Inc. He also operates the local community news site MyRye.com in his hometown. He spent over 25 years at media and technology companies including mastercard, Rubicon Project, Pulsepoint, ContextWeb, EDGAR Online and Wolff New Media. Donate.

(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Andy Sriubas.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā member Andy Sriubas.)

Sriubas. Andy was Chief Commercial Officer of OUTFRONT Media (NYSE: OUT) until January 2025. Prior to media, he spent 25 years in the investment banking industry. Andy held Managing Director roles at JPMorgan, UBS, and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, where he provided strategic advice to, and raised capital for, technology, media & telecommunications industry clients. Donate.

Your Support & The Team

Please consider supporting  Team Dayā. We cannot build these schools without your support. Example investment opportunities:

  • $40,000 Fund an entire school
  • $1,000 Paint for a school
  • $500 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
  • $250 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school

Three Ways You Can Help

  1. Make a Donation Online
    • Example investment opportunities:
      • $250 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school
      • $500 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
      • $1,000 Paint for a school
      • $40,000 Fund an entire school
  2. Spread the Word
    • Share our mission with your friends, your company and your industry
    • Invite us to speak about our mission to your network
    • Follow us LinkedIn, X / Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
  3. Join the Team & Travel on a School Build

Team Dayā 2026 Plans

We are now actively recruiting members for our 2026 groundbreakings:

Guatemala 2026

  • Sunday, March 22, 2026 – Saturday, March 28, 2026 [Deadline Passed.]

Malawi 2026

  • Sunday, June 28, 2026 – Saturday, July 4, 2026
  • Arrival by 2pm on first day, departure after 10am on last day
  • Arrive & depart: Lilongwe, Malawi (LLW-Kamuzu Intl.)

Senegal 2026

  • Sunday, November 29, 2026 – Saturday, December 5, 2026
  • Arrival by 2pm on first day, departure after 10am on last day
  • Arrive & depart: Dakar, Senegal (DSS-Blaise Diagne Intl.)

If you are curious to learn more about joining a build, please reach out to our Head of Recruiting Jaryd Knutsen. Not sure? Watch the documentary Building Change, the Team Dayā Story (8 minute run time), by Kathmandu based filmmaker Shyam Karki of Samson Film Productions.

Thanks again for your continued support,

All of us at Team Dayā

Logo of Team Dayā featuring stylized houses and the slogan 'Building Change'.
(PHOTO: The Minority Report podcast features Team Dayā and its founder Jay Sears on Episode #197. The podcast, by Kerel Cooper and Erik Requidan, features leaders from across the ad tech ecosystem.)

Minority Report Podcast Features Team Dayā

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(PHOTO: The Minority Report podcast features Team Dayā and its founder Jay Sears on Episode #197. The podcast, by Kerel Cooper and Erik Requidan, features leaders from across the ad tech ecosystem.)
(PHOTO: The Minority Report podcast features Team Dayā and its founder Jay Sears on Episode #197. The podcast, by Kerel Cooper and Erik Requidan, features leaders from across the ad tech ecosystem.)

The latest Minority Report Podcast features Team Dayā and its founder Jay Sears (Episode #197). The podcast, by Kerel Cooper and Erik Requidan, features leaders from across the ad tech ecosystem. In the podcast, you will learn the origin story of Team Dayā’s work Building Change by financing the construction of primary schools in remote corners of the developing world and how everyone can support the work – in small and large ways.

Cooper, Requidan and Sears also discuss leadership and the ad tech business. Some of the executives discussed in the episode include Jaryd Knutsen, Jordan Mitchell, Terry Kawaja, Todd Smith, Matt Deets, Ed Carey, David Peterson, Frank Addante, Mike Chevallier and Michael Lehman among others. Cooper and Requidan launched the award winning Minority Report Podcast in May of 2018 as a way of highlighting leaders within business, media, and technology. Since that time the two have recorded nearly 200 episodes featuring leaders who share insights and experiences gained throughout their personal and professional journeys.

The next Team Dayā school build kicks off on March 22, 2026 in Guatemala, and all our 2026 building dates are now available. Anyone curious to learn more about joining a future school build or otherwise supporting the mission should contact Team Dayā’s Head of Recruiting Jaryd Knutsen.

You can listen to latest Minority Report podcast featuring Team Dayā and its founder Jay Sears (Episode #197) on Spotify, Apple, Amazon or pick your favorite platform.

Your Support & The Team

Please consider supporting  Team Dayā. We cannot build these schools without your support. Example investment opportunities:

  • $40,000 Fund an entire school
  • $1,000 Paint for a school
  • $500 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
  • $250 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school

Three Ways You Can Help

  1. Make a Donation Online
    • Example investment opportunities:
      • $40,000 Fund an entire school
      • $1,000 Paint for a school
      • $500 In-country mason during the entire construction of the school
      • $250 All the nails, nuts, and bolts to build a roof for the school
  2. Spread the Word
    • Share our mission with your friends, your company and your industry
    • Invite us to speak about our mission to your network
    • Follow us LinkedIn, X / Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
  3. Join the Team & Travel on a School Build

Team Dayā 2026 School Project Dates:

We are now actively recruiting members for our 2026 groundbreakings. If you are curious to learn more about joining a build, please reach out to our Head of Recruiting Jaryd Knutsen. Not sure? Watch the documentary Building Change, the Team Dayā Story (8 minute run time), by Kathmandu based filmmaker Shyam Karki of Samson Film Productions.

Guatemala 2026

  • Sunday, March 22, 2026 – Saturday, March 28, 2026 
  • Arrival by 2pm on first day, departure after 10am on last day
  • Arrive & depart: Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA-La Aurora Intl.)

Malawi 2026

  • Sunday, June 28, 2026 – Saturday, July 4, 2026
  • Arrival by 2pm on first day, departure after 10am on last day
  • Arrive & depart: Lilongwe, Malawi (LLW-Kamuzu Intl.)

Senegal 2026

  • Sunday, November 29, 2026 – Saturday, December 5, 2026
  • Arrival by 2pm on first day, departure after 10am on last day
  • Arrive & depart: Dakar, Senegal (DSS-Blaise Diagne Intl.)

Thanks again for your continued support,

All of us at Team Dayā

(PHOTO: Team Dayā members Jay Sears, Sajal Patel, Thane Liffick and Jordan Mitchell with community members on the site for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)
(PHOTO: Team Dayā members Jay Sears, Sajal Patel, Thane Liffick and Jordan Mitchell with community members on the site for the new school building in Shripur Domilla, Nepal October 2025.)